Christ Stoke City have signed some absolute disasters over the past few years. People have a go at our recruitment team but theirís have been responsible for the likes of Bony, Berahino and Bojan - the three Bs. And the OP seriously suggests he could be useful? Why?

Firstly I was asking the question not suggesting he was the answer. Not seen anything from him in 3/4 years. Maybe he's absolutely done as a player I don't know.

But aLso, he has 104 goals in 186 games or something like that. He's 30. Hardly over the hill.

You don't lose finishing ability unless you've had bad Injuries.

Maybe he would not be useful I don't know. Like I said I've not seen him for years. But would he offer more than gestede? Probably.

If we could get two additions on the cheap in terms of wages and potentially rejuvenate a player who has ability. I certainly think there would be no harm in taking players like him on trial and having a closer look.

Bony will want a near 2 year contract on around 30k a week - just because he is training at Newport doesn't mean he will play for around £5k a week. If we have say only 1 or 2 forwards we may have to be looking for players on such deals. At present we have 4 forwards available.

Not often that regular Premiership players drop their wages in a big way unless they are right at the end of their career. Then you have to question their hunger and some could be carrying long term injuries, of course there are differing types of player.

Heís only training with them to keep fit and put himself in the shop window. I very much doubt he will sign and play for them at any time in the near future. Itís quite common for players to do this and clubs in lower divisions are happy to do it with the view that some of their players may learn something from these so called experienced and better quality players.

"Itís quite common for players to do this and clubs in lower divisions are happy to do it with the view that some of their players may learn something from these so called experienced and better quality players."

Right. This time last week Lukaku was training with Anderlecht's U-23 squad. There was no chance of him joining them.

Eckert has been a free agent sine being released by LaLiga side Celta Vigo early in July. The 22-year-old former Borussia Monchengladbach and Aachen striker scored seven in 40 appearances last season, although this was in games where he featured for just 1,855 minutes in total. This meant that his goals came at the rate of one per 267 minutes. His time last season was split between Celta Vigo and Dutch side Excelsior, for whom he scored four in four games for their Under-21s. He has goals in him, scoring 48 times in 80 games in the German youth leagues at Under-17/Under-19 level.

Kevin Wimmer has 3 years left on an £80k per week contract after having cost £17.5m 2 years ago.
Imbula cost £22m 4 years ago and is trying to get yet another loan sorted out, this time in Nice.
Ndiaye was another £14.5m 2 years ago, barely to see the pitch and out now in Turkey on loan for buttons.
Berahinho £12.5m 3 years ago, hasn't played is now in Belgium.
They paid £7m to loan Kurt Zouma for 1 season.
Afobe cost £12m a year ago and has just been farmed out on loan to Bristol City.

That is the best part of £100m with no resale value whatsoever.
They've also spent a nett £35m since relegation and have a squad with huge contractual wage obligations and amortised fees to cover.
This is the final year of Parachute Payments.
They will have a FFP problem based on 18-19, 19-20 and 20-21, if they haven't already. After that it will only get worse for them.

I think Stoke have further years of PPs because they were up for longer than 1 year?

But they decrease each year.

Still, after a decade in the sun, I think it's back to the usual for Stoke and Swansea.

When I hear fans complain about being behind the likes of Watford, Burnley, Palace and Bournemouth, I can't stress too much. They'll all come crashing back down in the next 5 seasons or so, and we'll be ahead of them again.

Was looking at free agents released by Championship clubs this summer, to be fair some fairly well known names. Also Premiership has some players from last season still without a club. I'm not saying these players are right for us but I was pretty shocked that these players are still available on a free